Exempt Amounts Under the Earnings Test

How the earnings test works
The retirement earnings test applies only to people below
normal retirement age (NRA). Social Security
withholds benefits if your earnings exceed a certain level, called a retirement
earnings test exempt amount, and if you are under your NRA. One of two
different exempt amounts apply — a lower amount in years before the year you
attain NRA and a higher amount in the year you attain NRA. These
exempt amounts generally increase annually with increases in the
national average wage index.

It is important to note that any benefits withheld while
you continue to work are not "lost". Once you reach NRA,
your monthly benefit will be increased permanently to account for the months in which benefits were withheld.

Exempt Amounts for 2015
We determine the exempt amounts using procedures defined in the Social
Security Act. For people attaining NRA after 2015, the annual
exempt amount in 2015 is $15,720.
For people attaining NRA in 2015, the annual exempt amount is
$41,880. This higher exempt amount
applies only to earnings made in months prior to the month of NRA attainment.

Benefits Withheld When Earnings Exceed Exempt Amounts
We withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 of earnings
in excess of the lower exempt amount. We withhold $1 in benefits for every $3
of earnings in excess of the higher exempt amount. Earnings in or after the
month you reach NRA do not count toward the retirement test.

Annual Retirement Earnings Test Exempt Amounts

Year

Lower amount a

Higher amount b

2000

$10,080

$17,000

2001

10,680

25,000

2002

11,280

30,000

2003

11,520

30,720

2004

11,640

31,080

2005

12,000

31,800

2006

12,480

33,240

2007

12,960

34,440

2008

13,560

36,120

2009

14,160

37,680

2010

14,160

37,680

2011

14,160

37,680

2012

14,640

38,880

2013

15,120

40,080

2014

15,480

41,400

2015

15,720

41,880

a Applies in years before the year of
attaining NRA.b Applies in the year of attaining NRA, for months
prior to such attainment.

From 1983-1999 the higher exempt amounts applied at ages 65 through 69,
as shown in our historical series of exempt
amounts.

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